You’ve been hearing us talk about exfoliation a lot lately, and with the fall months, it’s the perfect time to exfoliate. The weather is cold and our skin is dry, which means we need to help our skin cycle and give it a little kick-start. What comes to mind? Exfoliation and scrubs!

I don’t know about you but my skin is dry dry dry! And textured … and dull. Chemical exfoliation, peels and treatments are all over the place right now. And even here at Eccotique, you hear us talk about those types of exfoliation a lot. But, I want to talk a little bit more about physical (or mechanical) exfoliation. Exfoliation is a huge component in your skin care routine and our skin treatments. This is because exfoliation is a key segment in sloughing away dead skin cells, promoting cell turnover and it helps the other products you use work a lot better. Physical exfoliation is the process of manually scrubbing your skin to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. This can be done with different tools (Clarisonic, scrubbing brushes, Dermaplaning etc.) or products (scrubs). Chemical exfoliation however is done on a different level. It uses different enzymes and acids to promote more of a peel effect, and can penetrate further into the skin. Chemical exfoliants help shed away the outer layer of your surface cells but also work beyond that!

Why is regular exfoliation important?

- Helps promote cell turnover.

- Improves tone and texture of your skin.

- Allows for better product penetration and absorption.

- Reduces breakouts.

- Clears out pores.

- Helps improve collagen and elastin production.

- Not contraindicated for women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

I’ve heard scrubs can be harsh on my skin, is this true?

For some time, there have been myths about scrubs being harsh on skin. Here’s the thing, it’s not about the exfoliation itself usually. It is important to find skincare products that aren’t using harsh ingredients to scrub your skin. Certain scrubs using fruit pits and nut shells can cause micro-tearing on your skin. These are created by ingredients that are too sharp or jagged that cause small tears in the skin.

Are there other types of physical exfoliation besides scrubs?

There are certain treatments and tools that can provide a physical exfoliation. Brushes can be used at home to help cleanse and exfoliate your skin gently. Microdermabrasion is a skin treatment which provides exfoliation. Dermaplaning is also an amazing skin treatment to try if you need a good exfoliation. The great thing about this treatment (besides the results) is that is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to try. Most peels and chemical resurfacing procedures are not, but because this is physical, it is a great option!

Can you use chemical and mechanical exfoliating products together?

The short answer, yes! AHA’s, BHAS and physical exfoliants all have different benefits and work in different ways. If you are someone with tolerant skin, using both types can be incredibly beneficial to you. Using a physical exfoliant will help break down the top layer or skin and break through initial build up. This will help the other products and ingredients work better. Acids can help refine further but also target aging and pigmentation concerns. Please keep in mind that each person is different and exfoliation for each person is different and depends on the health and sensitivity of your skin. Over exfoliating can cause damage to your skins barrier and cause it to be sensitized.

Are scrubs only beneficial to the skin on my face and body?

Scrubs aren’t just great for your face though! Hair scrubs are also out there and have so many amazing benefits as well.

Scalp health is becoming a more and more talked about topic in the industry. Most people are washing their hair less often and using dry shampoo and products to re-style second (or third or fourth) day hair! Because of this, there is a bigger build-up of products and such on the scalp. Your scalp is an extension of your face, and in fact should be treated just as importantly. Besides all this build up making your scalp feel dry and itchy, it can also affect the follicle and hair growth. Health scalp leads to health hair, so if you are experiencing problems with your hair, start with the scalp!

Scalp scrub benefits:

- Exfoliate dead skin cells.

- Help get rid of product buildup.

- Fight excess oils.

- Promotes longer and stronger hair.